Tag Archives: grief

Mists Across the Valley

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Doc Arnett

Sad news on a rainy day gives way to a brief interlude of beauty in mid-afternoon. Rising mists after a storm lead to the forming reminder of God’s grace and the intercession of the Spirit with “groanings too deep for words.” Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged beauty, Christ, comfort, creek, death, Donna Ganger, faith, fog, grief, hope, intercession of the Spirit, Jesus, mist, mourning, murder, nature, Peter's Creek, Renee Good, sadness, tragedy, woods | Leave a comment

Empty Plates & Empty Chairs

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Doc Arnett

For most, holidays bring a mix of joy and tears. Embrace both, give thanks for the good, seek healing for each loss, do not let the Past rob you of Today’s joy. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, food, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Resurrection/Return, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged Christmas, comfort, faith, family, gifts, gratitude, grief, healing, holidays, hope, Jesus, joy, love, peace, resurrection, reunion, sadness, stockings, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

A Single Leaf

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Doc Arnett

Is it wrong to appreciate beauty and count our own blessings while others are suffering? Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged appreciaiton, autumn, autumn rain, beauty, blessings, caring, destruction, empathy, gratitude, grief, hurricane, nature, sharing, tragedy | Comments Off

Tough Transitions

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Doc Arnett

While I don’t know of a good way to lose a loved one to death, some are certainly worse than others. In all cases, God’s grace and mercy sustain us. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged cancer, comfort, death, dying, faith, grief, hope, life, loss, love, protracted suffering, tragedy, trauma | Comments Off

The Brother We Never Knew

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Doc Arnett

My oldest brother lived only a few hours. For fifty years, he was un-named and lay in a tiny grave marked only by a small metal marker that said, “Arnett-Infant Son.” Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged anniversary of death, Arnett, baby grave, Charlie Arnett, family, grief, infant death, life, loss, love, marker, Reuben Arnett, Ruby Arnett, siblings, sorrow, west Kentucky | Comments Off

Black Sabbath-II

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Doc Arnett

A reflection on the hopelessness the disciples experienced on the day after the death of the Messiah… and before his promised resurrection. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Resurrection/Return, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged after the burial, aloneness, before the resurrection, day of mouring, death of Christ, death of Jesus, despair, faith, grief, heartache, mourning, promise, prophecy | Comments Off

On Seeing Michael McCain for the First Time in Twenty-four Years

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Doc Arnett

He finishes parking his carAs I swing into the space beside himIn Don Senor’s parking lot. We trade one-armed man hugsAnd go inside to a booth near the back. It was hard to watch and hard to not see The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged death, faith, grief, loss, old friends, separation, sorrow | Comments Off

The Silence of an Entry Home

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Jeremiah has left for a whilelate in a Lord’s Day morning,taking Amos and Isla with him. Misty has taken Miah and tiny Ellisto go over to another daughter-in-law’s house for some professional baby pictures. I am left here alone for … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged emptiness, grief, loss, Poetry, sadness | Comments Off

The Bitter Storms

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Doc Arnett

The longer I have lived the more I am convinced that it is not time that heals. It is, rather, the blending of choice and grace, a sort of submissive seeking of healing. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged cold, comfort, grief, healing, snow, winter, winter storms | Comments Off

The Bosom of Abraham

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Doc Arnett

Even after the words and hugs of loved ones have faded into memory, Jesus and the Spirit continue to comfort us in our deepest losses. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged Bosom of Abraham, Boulder to Birmingham, comfort, Emmylou Harris, friendship, grief, Holy Spirit, intercession, Jesus Christ, loss | Comments Off